Peggy Rydzewski and Phil Dombrowski had been eye-balling a Wolverine Lake home for two years before it became their own.

The home, which sits on a corner lot across the street from Wolverine Lake, had been vacant for four years before they purchased it last year.

Rydzewski said she was outbid on seven other homes, most by investors looking to buy and flip. Many of the homes in the area were out of her price range, but she and Phil never gave up.

After spending an afternoon driving around the neighborhood, the couple noticed that the home of their dreams was going to auction, the Oakland County land auction. They saw it as an opportunity and immediately registered to participate in the auction.

"We couldn't have afforded this area on the general market," said Rydzewski. "We saw this house two years prior to purchasing it, but it wasn't for sale. We were worried because we didn't have the cash for it, but we were able to secure financing through the county's mortgage program."

She said if you're interested in purchasing a home through the county's land sale, you must do your homework first, but added it's a great alternative for people that cannot afford a home on the general market.

Peggy Rydzewski and Phil Dombrowski purchased their Wolverine Lake home at the 2017 Oakland County land sale.

MARK CAVITT/THE OAKLAND PRESS

Hundreds of people just like Peggy and Phil will travel to Pontiac on Oct. 3 for the county's annual fall land sale, which will feature nearly 80 properties.

Properties in Pontiac, Hazel Park, Commerce Township, Lyon Township, Milford, Oakland Township, Royal Oak Township and Waterford Township will also be featured. All properties foreclosed in 2018 are for non-payment of 2015 property taxes.

Each year, the county hosts two land sales to auction off tax foreclosed properties, both residential and commercial. Starting bids for all properties are set at the total amount of delinquent taxes, interest and fees that are owed on the property.

Meisner said the decline in properties subject to tax foreclosure can be attributed to a strengthening local economy as well as the foreclosure prevention efforts of his office. Assistance is offered through monthly payment plans, for those that are eligible, The Step Forward Michigan Loan Rescue Program, which offers up to $30,000 in federal funds to resolve delinquent property taxes, interest and fees.

"I want to stress that while this is good news, it is never lost on me that every single foreclosure means someone has abandoned or is losing their property," said Meisner. "There are people in our midst who are suffering. As treasurer, I work to balance compassion and accountability."

At the July land sale, 213 properties were sold, at an average price of $39,200, of the 291 that were available across 26 communities. The properties not sold at the summer sale are those being put up for auction next week, most of which are vacant lots, are landlocked, or have condemned structures awaiting clearance.

Overall, the number of tax foreclosed properties are declining year-over-year across the county, even in Pontiac where most of the county's tax foreclosed properties are located. In 2018, there were 365 foreclosures, down from 1,630 in 2012.

In Pontiac, 176 city properties went into foreclosure in 2018, that number is down from 580 in 2013.

In order to participate in the sale, which is being held at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas, 867 South Boulevard, you must pre-register by Friday, Sept. 28. You can view all the available properties, and pre-register, by visiting: oakgov.com/treasurer/real-estate/Pages/land.aspx. There is no same-day registration.